Twitter This Commentary In The News: Thanks this morning to ChrisM, my MP3Angel, for supplying the commentary audio file. Bangkok is burning after the "Red Shirt" leaders surrender but their followers DO NOT and things 'unglue'. More from Foreign Policy magazine:

Bangkok burns after military launches all-out assault on Red Shirts The Thai military launched an all-out assault on the Red Shirt compound in central Bangkok today, arresting the movement's leaders but prompting rioters to turn the city's main shopping district into a flaming battleground. After the government rejected a red-shirt ceasefire offer earlier today, the troops moved in using live ammunition to disperse the crowd. At least six protesters and an Italian news photographer were killed in the assault. The main Red Shirt leaders gave themselves up but supporters rampaged through the city setting fire to Bangkok's Stock Exchange, Electricity Authority, and largest shopping mall. Thousands of Red Shirt supporters have also reportedly attacked city halls in two provincial capitals. The captured leaders urged their followers, to no avail, to end the demonstrations. “We cannot resist against these savages anymore,” said Jatuporn Prompan. "I beg you. We have to end this for now.” [In Full]

WHY is this happening you ask?

Thailand: Why Obama is silent on the Bangkok massacres By Shamus Cooke May 16, 2010 -- When the White House is quiet as protesters are butchered in the streets of Bangkok, suspicions are raised. Silence often equals complicity. One can only imagine what the US government's response would be to a Venezuelan government slaughter: the US media and US President Barack Obama would loudly condemn such an act, in contrast to the muted response to Thailand's bloodbath. The history of US-Thailand relations explains why.... [In Full]

Been waiting for the spring offensive in Afghanistan? It's started, and the Taliban went first two days ago by attacking a convoy killing five US soldiers on the way to Kandahar. Did you know that Hamid Karzai's brother has the contract to protect convoys into Kandahar? He's been doing that, not with guns, but with payoffs... but we stopped paying him, so he stopped paying off the Taliban. There has also been an attack on the perimeter of Bagram air base killing a contractor and wounded nine soldiers. Again from FP... and it sounds like "Vietnamistan": Taliban insurgents launched an unsuccessful assault on the U.S. base at Bagram on Wednesday, failing to breach the base's perimeter. Another way of looking at it (via "The Vast Majority"):

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 Afghan rebels hit US Forces AFGHAN rebels have staged two spectacular attacks on the US-led occupation forces. A night-time raid on the US Bagram military base followed a car bomb attack on a NATO military convoy (pictured). Reports Al Jazeera: "Bagram, which is near Kabul, the capital, is one of the biggest military bases in Afghanistan and mainly holds US troops as well as a detention centre where al-Qaeda-linked fighters and 'terror' suspects are held. "Wednesday's attack follows the Taliban's announcement that they would launch a spring offensive against the Afghan government and foreign forces in Afghanistan in response to Nato's plans for a military campaign on the group's southern stronghold of Kandahar. [In Full, With Links]

Hmmm... STILL sounds like "Vietnamistan". As of yesterday May 18 2010, 1,000 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan. In America, some folks have been wondering where Faisal Shahzad the Times Square Bomber is, so the US produced him for a brief appearance in court and then whisked him back to Gitmo-By-The-Hudson, location unknown. The attempts to staunch the oil flow from the sunken BP Deepwater/Horizon oil drilling platform are less than effective as tar balls and floating oil begin to wash up on beaches across the South while Senators Murkowski of Alaska and Imhofe of Oklahoma block an attempt to boost the liability cap on oil spills from the current $75 million to $10 billion. In Yesterday's national primaries 80 year old Arlen Specter lost in Pennsylvania, but the Democrats capture John Murtha's Congressional seat and the "tea party' wins one with the installation of Rand Paul in Kentucky, in Arkansas it will go to a runoff between Blanche Lincoln and Bill Halter, and in the Oregon primary... "Oregon voters stood by their lawmakers in Tuesday's primary election, lifting state senators and representatives past challengers throughout the state". [After the commentary, it's like the 60s, but not... welcome to Vietnamistan! An Alabama 3 remix Courtesy of Skidmark Bob @ Pop dEFECT Radio, Free Radio Santa Cruz, all Pirate, all the time] -30-
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